Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Mona Lisa Splendid’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Mona Lisa Splendid’, characterized by its decorative anemone-type inflorsecences with elliptic-shaped, light purple-colored ray florets and green-colored enlarged disc florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Mona Lisa Splendid’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium,commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘Mona Lisa Splendid’.

The new Chrysanthemum is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation ofthe Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Mona Lisa Dark Pink, not patented.The new Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant within a population of plants of the cultivar inMay, 2004, in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. The selection of this plantwas based on its attractive ray floret color and good inflorescenceform.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since July, 2004,has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Splendid have not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhatwith variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Mona Lisa Splendid’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Mona Lisa Splendid’ as a newand distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum:

-   -   1. Decorative anemone-type inflorescences with elliptic-shaped,        light purple-colored ray florets and green-colored enlarged disc        florets; typically grown as a spray-type.    -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Early and uniform flowering response; plants flower about        seven weeks after the start of photoinductive treatments.    -   5. Good postproduction longevity; plants maintain good substance        for about three weeks in an interior environment.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the parent, thecultivar Mona Lisa Dark Pink, primarily in ray floret color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of theChrysanthemum cultivar Mona Lisa Rosy, disclosed in U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 11/259,312. In side-by-side comparisons conductedin Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differedfrom plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Rosy in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had darker green-colored        leaves than plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Rosy.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more freely flowering        than plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Rosy.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the cultivar Mona Lisa        Rosy differed in ray floret color.    -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had longer peduncles than        plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Rosy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Chrysanthemum. These photographs show the colors as true asit is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of thistype. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the colorvalues cited in the detailed botanical description which accuratelydescribe the colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering stem of ‘Mona Lisa Splendid’ grown as a naturalspray.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical flowering stem of ‘Mona Lisa Splendid’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown during the winter in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercialpractice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given longday/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatmentsto induce flower initiation and development. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures ranged from 17.5° C. to 30° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 18.5° C. to 24° C. and light levels were aboutfive kilolux. Plants were pinched once and were about eleven weeks fromplanting when the photographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Mona    Lisa Splendid.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the    Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Mona Lisa Dark Pink, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About six to seven days with            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 14 to 16 days            with temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description/habit.—Fine; light brown in color; freely            branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous decorative anemone-type cut flower            that is typically grown as a natural spray.        -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About            75 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Texture: Pubescent;            longitudinally ridged. Color: 146A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 7 cm to 12 cm. Width: About 5 cm to 7.5 cm. Apex:            Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent, rough; veins            prominent on lower surface. Color: Developing and fully            expanded foliage, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation,            close to 147B. Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower            surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147B. Petiole:            Length: About 5 mm to 20 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 147B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Decorative anemone-type inflorescence form with            elliptic-shaped ray florets and enlarged disc florets.            Inflorescences borne on terminals, arising from leaf axils.            Ray and disc florets develop acropetally on a capitulum.            Inflorescences not fragrant.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plants flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness). Early and uniform flowering            response; plants exposed to two weeks of long day/short            night conditions after planting followed by photoinductive            short day/long night conditions flower about seven weeks            later when grown as a natural spray.        -   Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment,            inflorescences and foliage will maintain good color and            substance for about three weeks.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit, about 30            to 35 inflorescences per flowering stem develop.        -   Spray width.—About 17 cm.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6 cm to 7 cm. Depth            (height): About 2 cm. Disc diameter: About 2 cm.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Shape: Oblate. Height: About 5 mm.            Diameter: About 8 mm to 10 mm. Color: Close to 137B.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 2 cm to 3.5 cm. Width: About 8 mm            to 13 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Aspect: Concave. Apex: Broadly            acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous; longitudinally ridged. Number of ray florets per            inflorescence: About 45 arranged in numerous rows. Color:            When opening, upper surface: Close to N78C. When opening,            lower surface: Close to 84D. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to N78C. Fully opened, lower surface: Lighter than            84D.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, enlarged. Length: About 6 mm            to 18 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm to 4 mm. Number of disc            florets per inflorescence: About 100. Color: Immature: Close            to 145B. Mature: Close to 84D; towards the base, close to            145C.        -   Phyllaries.—Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous.            Texture, lower surface: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper            surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147A            to 147B.        -   Peduncles.—Length, first peduncle: About 5 cm. Length,            fourth peduncle: About 8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm.            Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Pubescent; longitudinally ridged. Color: Close to 137B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Not observed. Gynoecium:            Present on both ray and disc florets. Stigma length: About            4 mm. Stigma width: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted.            Stigma color: Close to 145A; towards the apex, close to 7A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Chrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grown under    commercial conditions.

1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Mona Lisa Splendid’ asillustrated and described.